Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-06-13
DUTIES OF A LAWYER.
What General Rem Sutler thinks OF
1bem-IaIrTes sting Address by the
Gentleman OF Essex
To the Students Of the Boston University
Law School-Some Rather Frank
Admissions.

General Butler recently appeared before
the students in the Boston University
Law School in response to 8 request that
he should give them some suggestions
which mis- remarkable career st the bar
has made valuable. The address which
he delivered was not upon technical
points, but rather advice regarding the
relations of & lawyer to his clients and to
the public. Inasmuch as it furnishes an
insight into the secrets of the great law
yer's wonderful success in his profession,
much of the address is OF general inter
est. He said: ~ ave come here, not
! to decide questions OF the law, but to
point out to you some of the shoals and
currents which l have found of disRd-
vantage IN a practice OF almost forty
seven years-a practice as varied a. that
of most men. In impressing upon you the
duties of lawyer, l lay especial stress
upon absolute truth and fidelity to your
clients. This means several things.
First, as an adviser, as director. or
! his affairs, so far as they have legal
aspects, you are bound to defend his in
terests in the best possible way, as he!
himself would defend them. 1t is some=
times questioned if lawyer be justired
ia defending man whom he knows to be
guilty. Why not? He would defend
himself, and it is your duty to defend his
interests as fully if you knew he was
guilty ss if you believed him Innocent |
! never desired to defend an inndeent man
for his life, for the terrible RESPONSIBILITY
humans me. Never defend 8 gully man
! ba &c ~ ont q
the particulars. 1t will be very diff
cult thing TO make him tell the truth
until ne has Your confidence. He will
fear that if he tells the truth you won't
defend him, and until he does tell the
truth you can't defend him."
General Butler then gave some OF the
details of an important murder case in
which he was counsel for the defendant,
showing the importance OF obtaining 3
truthful confession from the client and OF
making careful investigation in person
CT ell the details of 9 case. He then said ::
'Never tell the j9ry that you believe
your client innocent. You must act as
il he were innocent. Charles Phillips,
who defended successfully many men on
criminal charges, was OEce defending I
valet, who was charged with numbering
and rObbing his master. Mr.. Phillips, in
IN .mp2ssioned address, declared his
clients innocence. The case was lost,
and the crimins! sfterward confessed that
be was guilty, and that he had also con-
fessed his guilt TO his lawyer. The law
yer lost caste among his associates, as no
LAWYER can afford TO do. The next mat
Ter | wish to impress upon you is that
you shall never trade with your
clients. l mean about property and
property rights. Always make your bar
gain for fee, and be careful to get it
IeB;ly. When a man comes TO you he will
& BE willing to pay you almost any price,
I But after the case has been tried, es-
n peCially if it has been lost, ne viii not be
81 willing 10 pay you anything. l need Tot
N say, don't disclose your clients secrets,
. for that is so rarely done that it may
i be sstdit is not done at all. Ard here let
tklaegsay that while the profession is made
butt, as being untrustworthy, we have
cOnfided to Us more than any other class,
not excepting the prizes thOod. Thousands
Of dollars of paper are put into a lawyers
hands and no sign CT receipt taken, but
the trust is almost always never betrayed.
You will find the forms for bills in your
books, but making bills is trust which
requires thought. Sometimes you will be
called by relative, son maybe, to make
istIsee will of q dying man. Remember you
I are the counsel, not of him who called
you, put of the dying man. If he wants
to make certain disposal of MS property
;4Ssc8 must give him the law, and must not
advise unless ne asks your advice. If he
is not able to tell you what he wants
done, he is not competent to make a will.
You will often be asked TO De executor Of
L.
accept the position # you wish to, after
il has been offered, but always ask that
some member of the family act with you.
1t will save you infinite trouble, and will
not alter your emoluments, for you will
have all the care, do all the legal work
and get all laughter that fairly be-
| longs to you.
"In advising about any transaction you
are to act for the interest OF your client;
but if you draw up papers they must be
drawn with accuracy that will give your
client no unfair advantage. In case of a
contract, you become counsel for both
sides. Don't act as broker, banker, or
|! business agent for your client, except
that business be connected with his legal
rights. know an instance where law
yer bought large amount of United
| States bonds fer his client. The client
went into insolvency, and concealed the
tact of his possession of the bonds. The
lawyer sat by and heard his client swear
/ that he had never bought the bonds nor
seen them. Bonds were found in his
possession, ard he was convicted for the
false swearing his lawyer had allowed
him 10 do. L emphasize again, in the
connection of lawyer srd client, the most
important as well as the most difficult
thing is to find ont the whole truth. You
Fought not to lose any of your first cases,
fol you will be employed by the plaintiff.
The defendant does not employ Il young
! Dr.